The Political, Social, and Literary History of Germany. By the
Rev. Dr. Cobham Brewer, Trinity Hall, Cambridge. (De la Rue and Co.)—This history being comprehensive, reaching "from the commencement to the present day," one wonders that it can be in one volume, and yet be quite free from the dryness which is the great objection to curtailed histories. It is true, Dr. Brewer makes use of smaller print where the interest culminates and the facts are numerous, but we ascribe his success in abbreviating chiefly to his very graphic style. Indeed, those who think colloquial phrases beneath the dignity of history, would not approve of it ; but we are inclined to think that the young would read history more attentively, and take in its facts more readily, if it were oftener written thus. We cannot quite under- stand the author's very strong views with regard to the two great "Karla." Of Charlemagne, he is so devoted an admirer as to con- sider that "as a man and a monarch he never had an equal ;" while of Charles V. he quotes, with approval, the remark that he was "a man without sentiment and without a tear," and he considers his religious retirement a complete sham. The part of the book devoted to the history of literature is extremely well arranged and of the deepest interest, especially the table of "Men of Note," arranged alphabetically in their respective centuries.
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